The Japanese have an expression, “Effort never betrays you.” A visit to Japan this past week has been a reminder that hard work and perseverance are enduring elements of the national identity. Both of us first visited Japan decades ago – in 1962 and 1988. This latest visit has provided […]
If you prefer short history lessons, look no further than medicine. It was not long ago, in 1954, that the first human organ, a kidney, was successfully transplanted. Just a few weeks ago, an American man became only the fourth person ever to emerge from surgery with a transplanted pig’s […]
Sir William Osler was a wise old owl in explaining medical matters. He was a professor of medicine at McGill University in Montreal, John Hopkins University in Baltimore, and finally at Oxford University in England. He told students, “We are all as old as our arteries and it’s lucky to […]
Helen Keller knew it better than most. She said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Good health is often viewed as a personal responsibility, but what if we told you that your friends and family may be the key to success? Science shows that […]
How many parents know this shocking fact? The American Liver Foundation reports that 10 percent of young children have fatty degeneration of the liver. It’s due to horrid food consumption practices, too much sugar and fat, leading to childhood obesity before the age of 10! Once fatty liver disease takes […]
Mark Twain said, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” But for many aging men, it matters a lot when their prized male organ starts to lose the vitality of youth. One of the most common yet often unspoken challenges is the […]
My life has been marked by good fortune. Yes, I inherited good genes and followed a sound lifestyle. But I’ve also had the luck of the Irish. I often think about those people who lead a sound lifestyle, but who get terribly unlucky. These are people, sometimes in the prime […]
Margaret Thatcher, the resolute British Prime Minister known as the “Iron Lady” famously said, “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” But for the millions who endure the excruciating torture of passing a kidney stone, just once is enough. About 50 per cent of […]
Have you become lax lately in brushing your teeth? Possibly not flossing as much as before? Or putting off seeing your dentist for checkups and teeth cleaning? If you’ve become careless, you could be playing a risky game with your brain. Studies show that older adults suffering from periodontal gum […]
Upon more than 50 years of writing a weekly medical column, Dr. W. Gifford-Jones, at the age of 100, brings us his 10th book: Healthy Retirement Residence Living: What Does the Doctor Say? Drawing on experience gained over decades of fighting for better health for Canadians, this must-read guide empowers […]
